Ravina is thrust into a life of hiding after her royal parent's are killed in their home. Secreted away in the night, she's lived as a null fae - one Ravina is thrust into a life of hiding after her royal parent's are killed in their home. Secreted away in the night, she's lived as a null fae - one without powers - in a village that views them as subhuman. Each and every day is a fight for survival and to keep her secrets hidden, until the day she's conscripted into a battle academy to train and fight with the very people that want her dead.
This was SUCH an incredible novel. It very much felt like a mix between Fourth Wing and Throne of Glass, with enough unique differences and interactions to keep it a book all it's own. The pacing was solid, without feeling like too much was tossed in at once. I loved that we got POV's from all 4 leads, and that it was a slower build-up instead of an instant interest or infatuation.
Ravina's crow familiar Nero was hilarious and quirky (especially his obsession with eyeballs), and I loved their bond and how it grew and adapted throughout the story. The side-characters are also well developed, especially the terrible ones, and the found family aspect is genuine and so well done with those she trusts.
I'm a sucker for a strong female lead, especially in a chosen-one special powers trope and this is honestly everything I wanted and more. The cliffhanger was definitely expected (and I was hoping for it so much sooner!) and has me hooked for the next book in the series. If you love fantasy, strong female leads, found family, and dragons - this one is for you!
Thank you to the author, S. E. Alexander, for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more
Susan isn't the kindest human in the world. In fact, many people would call her a selfish b*tch. All of that changes the moment she steps in front of Susan isn't the kindest human in the world. In fact, many people would call her a selfish b*tch. All of that changes the moment she steps in front of a bus without looking and her life ends as she knows it. Waking in an in-between space between life and more, she's made to confront who she was, how people perceive her, and how her soul can heal and move forward.
This was an unexpectedly impactful novel. I felt like I was gentle parented through my own feelings of what makes a person "good" or "bad" and how their own perception is twisted and distorted based on the filters through which others see them. Susan is a volatile lead that we're not supposed to like right out of the gates. She starts out as rude, manipulative and entitled. From there we see the layered abuse from people in positions of power over her, her own perception of those events, and how that impacted who she is and how she treated others while she lived.
Accompanying her is the soul guide who acts in the role of a therapist or inner voice, prompting Susan to recognize the generational trauma she has and how she dealt with it, as well as the small ways she broke the cycle, and how she impacted those around her - whether it was with genuine intent or not. Seeing the good she did inadvertently, mirrored with her self-serving intent showcased how layered humanity is.
I loved how time was explained, the moments of pop-culture references, and how each soul and its lifespan is presented. This novel felt like a continuous story of self-realization as we broke through each fault in Susan's foundation. It was a conversation that addresses the core of Susan, and people as we are, and it ended in the most perfect way for her soul after that journey. I genuinely loved this novella and look forward to reading more from this author!
Thank you to the author, Gwenna Laithland for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own....more
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